Improvement in car-couplings



ms giant Letters Patent-No. 104,704, dated June 28,1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

. The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SAMUEL I. OARLL and Amos SHUTE, of Richmond, lathe county of WVayne and State of Indiana, have invented an Improved Oar- Gonpling, of which the fbllowing is a specification.

-1he first part of our invention relates to the manner In which the uncoupling is eti'ected, and consists of .a spring that holds the coupling-bar down to its,

place, but which will yield, and allow said har to be elevated for. the purpose. of uncoupling the cars; said sprin'g heing so adjusted as toact at rightangles to the plane ot'the clutches, in the manner dcscribrd.

v Description of Drawing,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of portions of two cars with our improvcd coupling attached. 1

Figure 2 is a perspective view, showing the under side of the coupling.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the coupling, the position of the bars when uncoupled being indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a plan view of portions of two couplingbars, arranged in line as they are presented to each other when the two cars are being brought together.

The same letters refer to like parts in the different figures.

'll1e coupling-bar A is of wrought iron, and is provided with a barbed draw-head, B, thepoint of which is arranged on a, line with the centers of the car-axles, and a short distancebelow the platform or bumpers, in which position 'it is held by the stirrup M and springs P 1? Q.

The rear end of the coupling-bar passes through an opening in the castirou bracket a. that is suitably attached to the car-frame.

A rubber or metal spring surrounds the bar A on either side of the bracket u, for the purpose of breaking the force of any concussion in the one direction, or sudden jerk in the other. These springs are represented at It and S, the forward one being held in position bythe washer 'w, and the rear one by thcwa'sher nuts and key, represented at y. r

The stirrupO actsas abearing'tor the springs 19 P, and servesto increase their tension;

The springs P P Q consist of fiat bars of steel, and are secured to the bracket a, the springs P P being provided with clips 1) 1), that prevent them'from slipping off the coupling-bar, while the spring Q is broad at its outer end, upouwhieh the coupling-bar is free to movewithin the limits of the stirrup M. Spiral springs may be substituted for all or either of-the springs above mcntionech the difier'ence in adjustment being easily made. e

The chain E is attached to the coupllng-barA, and, passing up through the platform, is attached to a suitable lever or levers, by means of which the coupling bar is raised and the clutches disengaged. When this is, done, the springs P I? throw the bars into line, one

directly above the other, when they'will not engage,

and the cars may be separated atany time; but, i|nmediatelyupolr their separation, the bar is thrown down by the force of the spring Q, in addition .to its own weight, when it is again ready for coupling.

As will readily be seen, this coupling may he attached'with the plane of the clutchesjin a'vertical instead of a horizontal position, when the clutches will he disengaged]- by withdrawingone of the bars horizontally.

" The levers I J K are diflerently arranged to suit' their positions, and thekind of cars to which theyarc attached.

A slot, F, is'provided in the draw'he'ad B for con venience in coupling with cars having the usual link attachments, a suitable vertical hole being made through the head for the coupling-pin.

Having'thus fully described Mr said invention,

1. .The coupling-bar B 13, provided with barbed heads, and constructed and arranged to couple by lateral and he uncoupled by vertical movement, as set forth.

2. In combination with the above, the chain E and levers I J, 850., when arranged so as to operate as set forth.

3. The spring 0, incombiuation with the stirrup M, springs P and P, and coupling-bar A, when the several parts are constructed and arranged substantially as described.

- SAMUEL P. OARLL. Witnesses: AMOS SHUTE.

WM. E. BELL,

JOHN CALVERT. 

